NEW POLL: 63% of Michiganders Blame Trump Policies for Driving Up Energy Bills, Gas Prices, Forcing Tough Decisions
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LANSING, MI —A new statewide survey from EPIC-MRA finds that 63% of likely Michigan voters believe that President Trump’s policies are to blame for higher energy costs, including 46% that said they have gone up “a lot.” The poll also revealed that thanks to the skyrocketing gas prices from Trump’s war with Iran, respondents are changing their behavior by travelling and shopping less.
Climate Power Michigan Director Tom Lenard issued the following statement:
“Trump’s war on clean energy and his war in Iran are to blame for spiking utility costs and higher prices everywhere from the gas station to the grocery store. This polling shows that Michigan voters are putting the blame squarely where it belongs: on Trump and Michigan Republicans. As the 2026 elections loom, the GOP is poised to pay the political price for making life more expensive.”
The poll of 600 likely voters took place March 19 through March 24 and has a margin of error of +/- 4 points. Additional highlights include:
- 63% of respondents overall believe Trump policies caused energy prices to go up, including 73% of respondents earning between $50-75K a year.
- 70% of male respondents who attended college and 68% of independent male voters believe Trump policies caused energy prices to go up.
- 44% of self-identified conservative respondents believe Trump policies caused energy prices to go up.
Trump’s record on driving up prices and hurting Michigan’s economy includes:
- Since Trump attacked Iran, Michigan’s gas prices have skyrocketed 34%.
- Trump’s attacks on clean energy led to 23 clean energy projects in Michigan being canceled,delayed, or losing grant funding, resulting in 7,834 lost jobs and nearly $1.2 billion in lost investment.
- Trump’s clean energy cuts were projected to take 4.4 GW of capacity off the grid in Michigan, or enough to power more than 3.5 million homes for a year, at a time when demand is soaring due to data centers.
- Meanwhile, Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge between Michigan and Ontario, Canada, which will raise costs and threaten job creation.
- Far from fulfilling his promise to cut energy costs in half in his first year, since Trump took office, Michigan’s residential gas prices have increased by more than 10%, and electricity prices have increased by more than 5%.
- Since 2025, at least five utilities have enacted or proposed rate hikes in Michigan, totaling more than $4.6 billion billion, affecting over 4.3 million electric customers and 3.3 million gas customers.
- By 2035, Trump’s clean energy cuts were expected to raise Michiganders’ annual energy bills by $320, gasoline bills by $102, and wholesale electricity prices by 34%.
- Trump’s tariffs alone cost American households $1,000 in 2025, and were expected to cost $600 in 2026. Trump’s tariffs increased costs for Michiganders, and they were expected to raise the price of a car by $3,000 and to cost GM, Ford, and Stellantis up to $7.3 billion.
“Congressmen like John James, Tom Barrett and Bill Huizenga are afraid to stand up to Trump and his Big Oil backers to bring prices down for Michigan families,” said Lenard. “The Republicans at the GOP convention this weekend should’ve saved the $50 entry fee to use for a half-tank of gas instead.”
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Climate Power is a strategic communications organization focused on winning the politics of climate. We use data-backed messages to pave a path for bold action and shine a light on the price of ignoring the climate crisis would cost our health, economy, and future generations. Climate Power is not endorsing candidates running for office in Michigan.